THE SUITABILITY OF COTTON STALKS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MEDIUM DENSITY FIBREBOARD
THE SUITABILITY OF COTTON STALKS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MEDIUM DENSITY FIBREBOARD
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015-07-30
Authors
MAKAREM, GEORGE A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The medium Density Fibreboard is dry formed panel
and is usually produced from lignocellulosic fibre
bonded with resins. It is made from wood fibres.
The purpose of this project is to investigate the
suitability of cotton stalks for the production of
such boards.
The cotton stalks consist of the pith which is
the soft central portion of the stem, the wood blast
which is the main part of the stem, the cambium which
is the lignocellulose layers and the bark,
A laboratory samples were produced from cotton
stalks. The process was chipping, sifting, washing,
cooking, defibration, drying, and second defibration,
resin blending, mat forming, pressing,trimming and
conditioning.
The produced samples were tested for evaluation
of the physical and mechanical properties. These
tests were bending strength, tensile strength parallel
to surface, tensile strength perpendicular to the
surface, compression, nail resistance, screw withdrawal,
surface soundness, water absorption and
thickness swell tests.
The test results were compared with the data
available from the present standards. All samples passed all the tests successfully except for water
absorption and thickness swell tests because no wax
was added during the process of manufacturing the
samples. But in general, the results proved that
the cotton stalk is good material for MDF making.
It is recommended strongly that a MDF Plant,
based on the cotton stalks as raw material, be established.
Description
B.Sc, M.Eng., Ph.D., C.Eng., M.I. Prod. E, Mem. ASME.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria, Nigeria
Keywords
SUITABILITY,, COTTON,, STALKS,, MEDIUM,, DENSITY FIBREBOARD